Media release: Appoint independent AG as an interim measure

Submitted by yijian on Mon, 05/14/2018 - 10:44

Appoint Independent Candidate for New Attorney General as an Interim Measure

13 May 2018 NGO Joint Statement

BERSIH 2.0, Center to Combat Corruption and Cronyism (C4 Center), Suara Rakyat Malaysia (SUARAM), Pusat Komas and ENGAGE call for the Pakatan Harapan government to appoint an independent and credible candidate to be the new Attorney General, as an interim measure to ensure the independence of decision-making in prosecution.

This is in view of the creation of an independent Public Prosecutors Office, to be separated from the Attorney-General Chambers as promised in the Pakatan Harapan Manisfesto, is yet to be put in place and may take some time to change the law and establish such a Public Prosecutor office.

The people have voted loud and clear that they want a democratic and clean government and given huge mandate to Pakatan Harapan to form the next government. The appointment of new Attorney-General at this transition period should not be a political appointment to avoid conflict of interest.

We therefore urge Pakatan Harapan government to instil public confidence by appointing a legal expert with high integrity, public credibility, proven track record of excellent knowledge and experiences in the field of law, who is independent from Pakatan Harapan to become the new interim Attorney-General until an independent public prosecutor office is established.